He added: ‘’She has come to no harm unless she has got harmed in the past couple of weeks.’’

In August Inverclyde Council ordered the Inverkip property to be demolished unless urgent repair works were carried out, saying it was in a “serious state of disrepair”.

The property was reportedly sold last week for £120,000.

Ms Fleming is described as 5ft 5in with a heavy build, collar-length black hair and brown eyes.

When reported missing on October 28 last year, she was said to be wearing a green tartan fleece, dark trousers, dark Karrimor boots and was carrying a handbag.

BBC Scotland said the original police contact was triggered by a call from a benefits agency as it appears her Disability Living Allowance was being replaced by a Personal Independence Payment and she needed to attend an assessment.

Mr Cairney told the broadcaster Ms Fleming had a ‘’persecution complex’’ and was afraid of authority, claiming she ran off when officers arrived at the house.

He said: ‘’I turned around to get Margaret and she was gone, out of the door. There was police at the back, police at the front, she could not get out of that door without being seen.

‘’I don’t know which way she went. She must have just walked right through them.’’